Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players - March 2022
The March 2022 edition of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, approved on 16 March 2022 and in force immediately; Annexe 7, containing temporary rules governing the exceptional situation arising from the war in Ukraine, was added to the Regulations.
| Approved | 16 March 2022 — Bureau of the FIFA Council |
| In force from | Immediately |
| Structure | 29 articles + annexes (including the new Annexe 7) |
| Status | Superseded — replaced by the June 2022 edition |
What are the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players?
The FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (RSTP) determine the global and binding framework for the registration of players, their status as amateurs or professionals, transfers between clubs affiliated to different associations, contractual stability, the protection of minors, and the mechanisms for training compensation and solidarity contribution. Certain provisions of these Regulations must be incorporated without modification into the internal regulations of each national association.
About the March 2022 editionChanges from August 2021
This edition was approved by the Bureau of the FIFA Council on 16 March 2022 and entered into force immediately. The text states expressly that these Regulations also contain "temporary rules for the exceptional situation arising from the war in Ukraine" and that these temporary amendments will be reviewed periodically and removed.
Principal changes from the previous edition
- Addition of Annexe 7 — temporary rules governing the war in UkraineA new annexe was inserted for employment contracts with an international dimension between players or coaches and clubs affiliated to the Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF) and the Football Union of Russia (FUR).
- Automatic suspension of contracts with Ukrainian clubsIt was provided that a contract with an international dimension between a player or coach and a club affiliated to the UAF is, unless otherwise agreed, deemed automatically suspended until 30 June 2022.
- Unilateral suspension of contracts with Russian clubsIt was provided that a contract with an international dimension with a club affiliated to the FUR may be unilaterally suspended until 30 June 2022.
- No breach of contract arising from suspensionIt was made express that a player or coach whose contract has been suspended on this basis does not commit a breach of contract by signing a contract with, and being registered for, a new club, and that the minimum contract length requirement (article 18 paragraph 2) does not apply to that new contract.
- Cap on the admission of players benefiting from the exceptionIt was provided that each club may register a maximum of two professional players benefiting from the exceptions in this annexe.
Who this document matters to
For clubs engaged in international transfers, players and coaches under contract with a foreign club, agents and sports lawyers, this document is the principal basis for the legal assessment of a case. In any dispute, the applicable edition of the Regulations is the one in force at the time the event occurred; for this reason, access to the text of earlier editions is of practical importance for past cases.